Controller

ABSTRACT

A controller which can be kept clean easily and has no influence on magnetism is provided. 
     A light ray from light-emitting element  401  mounted on body  101  of a movable apparatus is detected by light-receiving element  402  mounted on body  101  via first optical fiber  431 , wavelength-variable mechanism  421  of controller body  420  and second optical fiber  432 . Wavelength-variable mechanism  421  changes a wavelength of the light ray in accordance with manual operation. The wavelength is detected by light-receiving element  402 , and an operation of a movable mechanism is controlled. Since controller body  420  is not connected to body  101  via a wire, the controller has no influence on magnetism. Since an electronic circuit is not mounted on controller body  420 , for example, controller body  420  can be disinfected with disinfectant or fumigation and also can be formed as a disposable device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a controller for controlling theoperation of a movable apparatus including a movable mechanism mountedon an apparatus body, and more particularly, to a controller including acontroller unit removably mounted on the apparatus body.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently available diagnostic imaging apparatuses for capturingdiagnostic images of patients include CT (Computed Tomography) scanners,MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatuses, PET (Positron EmissionTomography) apparatuses, SPECT (Single Photon Emission ComputedTomography) apparatuses, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses and the like.Angiography apparatuses, MBA (MR angiography) apparatuses and the likeare currently used as diagnostic imaging apparatuses for capturingvascular images of patients.

When the abovementioned diagnostic imaging apparatuses are used, aliquid such as a contrast medium or physiological saline may be injectedinto a patient. Chemical liquid injectors for automatically performingthe injection have been put into practical use. A liquid syringe, forexample including a cylinder member and a piston member slidablyinserted into the cylinder member, is mounted on such a chemical liquidinjector. A syringe driving mechanism presses the piston member into thecylinder member.

The cylinder member is filled with a liquid and connected to a bloodvessel of a human body near the surface thereof through an extensiontube and an injection needle. Thus, the liquid in the liquid syringe isinjected with pressure into the blood vessel of the human by thechemical liquid injector. Some of the chemical liquid injectors canautomatically perform the injection in accordance with initial settings,and others can perform the injection based on real-time control. Some ofthe chemical liquid injectors performing the injection based onreal-time control include a controller integral with the body of theinjector, and others have a separately formed controller body of acontroller from the body of the injector.

In such a case, for example, a manual operation member is slidablymounted on the controller body which contains a signal producing circuitconnected to the manual operation member. The signal producing circuitcomprises a variable resistor, for example, and produces a drivingcontrol signal in response to slide operation of the manual operationmember.

The controller body is connected to one end of a flexible wire cablehaving a sheathed conductor, and the other end of the wire cable isconnected to the body of the chemical liquid injector. The body includesa driving circuit for driving a slider mechanism. The driving circuit isconnected to the signal producing circuit of the controller unit throughthe conductor of the wire cable.

In the chemical liquid injector described above, when an operator holdsthe controller body and slides the manual operation member, the signalproducing circuit produces a driving control signal in response theretoand supplies the signal to the driving circuit in the body of thechemical liquid injector through the wire cable. Since the drivingcircuit controls the operation of the slider mechanism in response tothe supplied driving control signal the piston member of the liquidsyringe is slid in accordance with the operation of the manual operationmember of the controller.

In the abovementioned chemical liquid injector, the body of the chemicalliquid injector and the controller formed as separate components areconnected to each other through the flexible wire cable, and theinjection operation in the body of the chemical liquid injector can bemanually operated by the controller body, so that excellent usability isachieved. Chemical liquid injectors of the type having theabovementioned controller have been commercially manufactured anddisclosed on the Internet and the like (see, for example, non-patentdocuments 1 to 4 below).

Non-patent document 1: “Dual Shot in product guides of Nemoto KyorindoCo., Ltd” (retrieved in Feb. 13, 2004)(URL:http://www.nemoto-do.co.jp/seihin_ct.html#dual);

Non-patent document 2: “Auto Enhance A-60 in product guides of NemotoKyorindo Co., Ltd” (retrieved in Feb. 13, 2004)(URL:http://www.nemoto-do.co.jp/seihin_ct.html#a60);

Non-patent document 3: “Auto Enhance A-25 in product guides of NemotoKyorindo Co., Ltd” (retrieved in Feb. 13, 2004)(URL:http://www.nemoto-do.co.jp/seihin_ct.html#a25);

Non-patent document 4: “Sonic Shot 50 in product guides of NemotoKyorindo Co., Ltd” (retrieved in Feb. 13, 2004)(URL:http://www.nemoto-do.co.jp/seihin ang.mr.html.#sonic50)

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Subject to be Solved by the Invention

In medical facilities where the abovementioned chemical liquid injectoris used, operator's hands and fingers for manipulating the chemicalliquid injector should be always kept clean. To this end, at least thecontroller body should be disinfected. However, it is difficult todisinfect the controller body containing the signal producing circuitand the like with disinfectant or fumigation.

If a controller body is formed of a controller unit removably mounted onthe body of the chemical liquid injector and the controller unit isdisposable, the controller unit can be always kept clean. However, thecontroller unit having the wire cable, the signal producing circuit andthe like is not inexpensive, and in reality, it is difficult to form thecontroller unit as a disposable device.

Diagnostic imaging apparatuses used together with the above-mentionedchemical liquid injector include MRI apparatuses and MRA apparatuseswhich use magnetism. If the controller including the controller bodycontaining various circuits connected to the body of the chemical liquidinjector through the wire cable formed of the conductor is located closeto the diagnostic imaging apparatus, the controller impairs the magneticfield of the diagnostic imaging apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentionedproblems, and it is an object thereof to provide a controller which canbe always kept clean easily and can be used close to a diagnosticimaging apparatus using magnetism.

Means to Solve the Subject

The present invention provides a controller for controlling theoperation of a movable mechanism mounted on a body of a movableapparatus. A controller according to a first aspect includes acontroller body, an optical fiber, a wavelength-variable mechanism, alight-receiving element, and a driving control means.

The controller body is formed separately from the body of the apparatus.The optical fiber is flexible and has one end attached to the controllerbody and the other end attached to the body of the apparatus. Thelight-emitting element is mounted on the controller body and emits alight ray which enters the one end of the optical fiber. Thewavelength-variable mechanism is mounted on the controller body andchanges the wavelength of the light ray emitted by the light-emittingelement and entering the one end of the optical fiber in accordance withmanual operation. The light-receiving element is mounted on the body ofthe apparatus and detects the wavelength of the light ray emitted fromthe other end of the optical fiber. The driving control means is mountedon the body of the apparatus and controls the operation of the movablemechanism in accordance with the detection result of the light-receivingelement.

A controller according to a second aspect of the present inventionincluding a controller body, a first optical fiber, a light-emittingelement, a second optical fiber, a wavelength-variable mechanism, alight-receiving element, and a driving control means. The first opticalfiber is flexible and has one end attached to the body of the apparatusand the other end attached to the controller body. The light-emittingelement is mounted on the body of the apparatus and emits a light raywhich enters the one end of the first optical fiber. The second opticalfiber is flexible and has one end attached to the controller body, thelight ray emitted from the other end of the first optical fiber enteringthe one end, and the other end attached to the body of the apparatus.The wavelength-variable mechanism is mounted on the controller body andchanges the wavelength of the light ray emitted from the other end ofthe first optical fiber and entering the one end of the second opticalfiber in accordance with manual operation. The light-receiving elementis mounted on the body of the apparatus and detects the wavelength ofthe light ray emitted from the other end of the second optical fiber.

Thus, in the first/second controllers of the present invention, when thewavelength-variable mechanism of the controller body connected to thebody of the apparatus through the optical fiber is manually operated,the wavelength of the light ray detected by the light-receiving elementof the body of the movable apparatus is changed to produce a drivingcontrol signal. As a result, the operation of the movable mechanism ofthe body of the apparatus is controlled in accordance with the manualoperation of the controller body. In addition, in the first/secondcontrollers of the present invention, the controller body and the bodyof the apparatus are not connected to each other through a wire cableformed of conductor, and in the second controller, the controller bodydoes not include various circuits or the like which have complicatedstructures and are expensive.

Various means referred to in the present invention may be arranged toperform their functions, and may comprise dedicated hardware forperforming a predetermined function, a data processing apparatus whosepredetermined function is given by a computer program, a predeterminedfunction performed in a data processing apparatus according to acomputer program, or a combination thereof.

Various components referred to in the present invention do not need tobe a separate entity. A plurality of means may be constructed as onemember, a certain means may be part of another means, or a certain meansmay have a portion overlapping a portion of another means.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

In the controller of the present invention, the operation of the movablemechanism of the body of the apparatus can be controlled in accordancewith the manual operation of the controller body. In the first/secondcontrollers of the present invention, since the controller body and thebody of the apparatus are not connected through a wire cable formed ofconductor, they can be used near the diagnostic imaging apparatusutilizing magnetism. In the second controller, since the controller bodydoes not include various circuits or the like which have complicatedstructures and are expensive, the controller body can be disinfectedwith disinfectant or fumigation, or can be disposable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the inner structure of acontroller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional view showing acontroller unit of the controller removed from an injection control unitcorresponding to a body of an apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a chemicalliquid injector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how to mount a liquid syringe on aninjection head of the chemical liquid injector.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of adiagnostic imaging system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of thediagnostic imaging system.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the inner structure of acontroller unit in a modification.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the inner structure of acontroller unit in a modification.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the inner structure of acontroller unit in a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100 CHEMICAL LIQUID INJECTOR-   101 INJECTION CONTROL UNIT corresponding to body of apparatus-   114 SYRINGE DRIVING MECHANISM serving as movable mechanism-   130 COMPUTER BLOCK serving as driving control means-   300 LIQUID SYRINGE-   310 CYLINDER MEMBER-   320 PISTON MEMBER-   400 CONTROLLER-   401 LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT-   402 LIGHT-RECEIVING ELEMENT-   410, 500 CONTROLLER UNIT-   420, 502 CONTROLLER BODY-   421 LIGHT-TRANSMITTING PLATE serving as wavelength-variable element-   422, 513 MANUAL OPERATION MEMBER-   431 FIRST OPTICAL FIBER-   432 SECOND OPTICAL FIBER-   520 SHUTTER MEMBER serving as optical path open/close mechanism

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING THE INVENTION Configuration of Embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be describedwith reference to drawings. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, diagnosticimaging system 1000 of the embodiment has chemical liquid injector 100serving as a movable apparatus and MRI apparatus 200 serving as adiagnostic imaging apparatus. Chemical liquid injector 100 and MRIapparatus 200 are wire-connected.

As shown in FIG. 3, chemical liquid injector 100 includes injectioncontrol unit 101 corresponding to a body of apparatus and injection head110 constructed as separate components. Injection control unit 101 andinjection head 110 are wire-connected through communication cable 120.Injection head 110 is attached to the top end of caster stand 121 bymovable arm 122. Head body 111 of injection head 110 has concave portion112 in the upper surface.

Liquid syringe 300 comprises cylinder member 310 and piston member 320wherein piston member 320 is slidably inserted into cylinder member 310.Cylinder member 310 and piston member 320 have cylinder flange 311 andpiston flange 321 formed in the outer circumferences of the trailingends thereof, respectively. Cylinder member 310 has conduit 312 formedat the closed leading end.

In diagnostic imaging system 1000 of the embodiment, liquid syringe 300is filled with a contrast medium as a liquid suitable for MRI apparatus200. When chemical liquid injector 100 injects the contrast medium intoa patient from liquid syringe 300, MRI apparatus 200 captures diagnosticimages of the patient.

In chemical liquid injector 100 of the embodiment, syringe holdingmechanism 113 which is openable and closable is formed in the forwardsection of concave portion 112 of injection head 110. Syringe holdingmechanism 113 removably holds cylinder flange 311 of liquid syringe 300.Syringe driving mechanism 114 serving as a movable mechanism is disposedin the rearward section of concave portion 112 of injection head 110.Syringe driving mechanism 114 holds and slides piston member 320 ofliquid syringe 300 held in concave portion 112. Syringe drivingmechanism 114 has ultrasonic motor 116 as a driving source and slidespiston member 320 with a screw mechanism (not shown) or the like.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, injection control unit 101 hasoperation panel 103, liquid crystal display 104, speaker unit 105 andthe like, all of which are disposed on the outer face of unit body 106.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, controller unit 400 is integrally formed withinjection control unit 101.

As shown in FIG. 6, injection control unit 101 contains computer block130 serving as a driving control means for controller 400. Computerblock 130 is connected to respective portions such as operation panel103, liquid crystal display 104, speaker unit 105, ultrasonic motor 116,light-emitting element 401, and light-receiving element 402.

Computer block 130 is formed of a so-called one-chip microcomputerprovided with hardware such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) 131, ROM(Read Only Memory) 132, RAM (Random Access Memory) 133, communicationI/F (Interface) 134 and the like.

A computer program is installed in ROM 132. CPU 131 performs varioustypes of processing in accordance with the computer program to integrateand control the respective portions of chemical liquid injector 100.Although respective portions such as ultrasonic motor 116 and speakerunit 106 are actually connected to computer block 130 via a drivingcircuit and the like, direct connections are shown here to simplify thedescription.

Controller 400 has light-emitting element 401, light-receiving element402, and controller unit 410. Controller unit 410 has controller body420 and fiber cable 430 as main components. Injection control unit 101has optical socket 141 as a concave portion having a predetermined shapeformed in its outer face. Light-emitting element 401 and light-receivingelement 402 are placed in optical socket 141.

Light-emitting element 401 comprises an electric bulb (not shown)combined with a collimator optical system, for example, and emitscollimated beam of light in a predetermined wavelength band.Light-receiving element 402 comprises, for example, three photodiodes(not shown) correspond to color filters for RGB (Red, Green, and Blue).From the intensity of the received light ray detected by each of them,the wavelength thereof is detected by computer block 130.

Fiber cable 430 of controller unit 410 comprises first optical fiber 431and second optical fiber 432 connected in parallel. Optical plug 433 isattached integrally with the trailing end of fiber cable 430. Opticalplug 433 is removably attached to optical socket 141. When optical plug433 is inserted into optical socket 141, the end of first optical fiber431 is opposed and optically coupled to light-emitting element 401, andthe end of second optical fiber 432 is opposed and optically coupled tolight-receiving element 402.

Controller body 420 is formed to have an elongated box shape and isattached to the leading end of fiber cable 430. Within controller body420, the ends of first and second optical fibers 431 and 432 are opposedto each other. The trailing ends of first and second optical fibers 431and 432 are attached integrally to coupling optical systems 435 forrealizing the optical coupling between light-emitting elements 401 andlight-receiving element 402. The leading ends thereof are attachedintegrally to coupling optical systems 436 for realizing the opticalcoupling between them.

Elongated light-transmitting plate 421 serving as a wavelength-variableelement is mounted on controller body 420 and is placed slidably in thelongitudinal direction in the space between the opposite leading ends offirst and second optical fibers 431 and 432. Light-transmitting plate421 is formed of, for example, color filters for RGB arrangedlongitudinally in order and transmits light rays in differentwavelengths in its different portions.

As shown in FIG. 3, manual operation member 422 is placed on the outerface of controller body 420 and is connected to light-transmitting plate421 via a slit-shaped through-hole 423. When manual operation member 422of controller body 420 is manually slid, light-transmitting plate 421 isslid accordingly to change the wavelength of the light ray emitted fromfirst optical fiber 431 and entering second optical fiber 432.

The respective portions of controller unit 410 are made of material suchas engineering plastics or the like which provides sufficient corrosionresistance, heat resistance, and strength, and which is not affected bymagnetism.

OPERATION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The operation of diagnostic imaging system 1000 of the embodiment in theabovementioned structure will be described in order. First, as shown inFIG. 5, injection head 110 of chemical liquid injector 100 is disposednear diagnostic imaging unit 201 of MRI apparatus 200, and liquidsyringe 300 filled with a liquid such as a contrast medium is preparedfor use together with an extension tube (not shown) and the like.

Then, liquid syringe 300 is connected to a patient (not shown) indiagnostic imaging unit 201 via the extension tube or the like. Liquidsyringe 300 is mounted on injection head 110 of chemical liquid injector100. In this state, when an operator makes entry to start operation onoperation panel 103 of injection control unit 101 or the like, computerblock 130 detects the operation and drives light-emitting element 401.

Light-emitting element 401 emits a light ray which then enters thetrailing end of first optical fiber 431 of controller unit 410 and comesout of the leading end thereof. The light ray passes throughlight-transmitting plate 421, which can change the wavelength thereof.The light ray with the wavelength changed by light-transmitting plate421 enters the leading end of second optical fiber 432 and comes out ofthe trailing end thereof. The light ray coming out of the trailing endis detected by light-receiving element 402, and the wavelength of thedetected light ray is determined by computer block 130.

In the initial state, since manual operation member 422 is placed closeto the trailing end of through-hole 423 of controller body 420 by anoperator (not shown), the light ray passes through the portion of thecolor B in RGB light-transmitting plate 421, and the B color is detectedby computer block 130. In response to the detection result, computerblock 130 controls ultrasonic motor 116 to disable the operationthereof, so that syringe driving mechanism 114 is not drivenunnecessarily in the initial state.

After that state, the operator slides manual operation member 422 tonear the center of through-hole 423 of controller body 420. Then, thelight ray passes through the portion of the color G inlight-transmitting plate 421, and the G color is detected by computerblock 130. In response to the detection result, computer block 130operates syringe driving mechanism 114 at low speed to inject the liquidfrom liquid syringe 300 into the patient at low speed.

After that state, the operator slides manual operation member 422 tonear the leading end of through-hole 423 of controller body 420. Then,the light ray passes through the portion of the color R inlight-transmitting plate 421, and the R color is detected by computerblock 130. In response to the detection result, computer block 130operates syringe driving mechanism 114 at high speed to inject theliquid from liquid syringe 300 into the patient at high speed.

EFFECT OF THE EMBODIMENT

In chemical liquid injector 100 of diagnostic imaging system 1000 of theembodiment, manual operation member 422 of controller body 420 can bemanually operated to remotely control the liquid injection with syringedriving mechanism 114 of injection head 110 as described above.

In chemical liquid injector 100 of the embodiment, controller unit 410does not include light-emitting element 401, light-receiving element402, or the wires, and thus has no influence on a magnetic field. Thus,chemical liquid injector 100 can be easily used near MRI apparatus 200.

In chemical liquid injector 100 of the embodiment, controller unit 410operated manually is removably mounted on injection control unit 101,and controller unit 410 does not include light-emitting element 401,light-receiving element 402, or the wires. Thus, controller unit 410 canbe removed from injection control unit 101 and disinfected withdisinfectant or boiling. As a result, controller unit 410 operatedmanually can be always kept clean.

In addition, since controller unit 410 which does not includelight-emitting element 401, light-receiving element 402, or the wires issignificantly inexpensive, it can be disposable and easily discardedafter it is used once or several times. As a result controller unit 410can be kept clean more reliably.

MODIFICATIONS OF THE EMBODIMENT

The present invention is not in any way limited to the above-mentionedembodiment, but various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in theabove embodiment, chemical liquid injector 100 is shown as an example ofthe movable apparatus on which controller unit 410 is mounted to controlthe operation thereof. However, the present invention is applicable tovarious types of movable apparatuses.

In the above embodiment, light-transmitting plate 421 is clearlysectioned for a plurality of colors, and the operation of syringedriving mechanism 114 is controlled in a plurality of steps based on thecolors. For example, light-transmitting plate 421 may be coloredsteplessly and the operation of syringe driving mechanism 114 may becontrolled steplessly based on the color.

In the above embodiment, light-transmitting plate 421 is moved inassociation with the manual operation of manual operation member 422.For example, light-transmitting plate 421 may be fixed and the ends offirst and second optical fibers 431 and 432 may be moved. It is possibleto move the end of one of first and second optical fibers 431 and 432.

In the above embodiment, elongated light-transmitting plate 421 issupported slidably in the longitudinal direction in controller body 420and slid together with manual operation member 422. For example, a disclight-transmitting plate may be rotatably supported and rotated togetherwith the manual operation member (not shown).

In the above embodiment, light-transmitting plate 421 is used as anexample of the wavelength-variable element for changing the wavelengthof the light ray. As such a wavelength-variable element, for example, itis possible to use a reflective plate which reflects light rays withdifferent wavelengths in different portions or a prism which transmitsor reflects light rays with different wavelengths in different portions(not shown).

In the above embodiment, light-transmitting plate 421 and manualoperation member 422 are simply mounted slidably on controller body 420.For example, it is possible to form an automatic returning mechanismformed of a coil spring or the like for automatically returninglight-transmitting plate 421 and manual operation member 422 to theinitial positions. Light-transmitting plate 421 and manual operationmember 422 biased in this manner may be releasably held in an operationstate by an operation holding mechanism of a predetermined structure(not shown).

In this case, releasing the operation holding mechanism causes theautomatic returning mechanism to automatically return light-transmittingplate 421 and manual operation member 422 to return to the initialpositions. Thus, the reset to the initial states can be performed easilyand reliably. Since light-transmitting plate 421 and manual operationmember 422 manually operated to the desired positions can be held by theoperation holding mechanism, the operation state can be maintained asdesired.

In the above embodiment, both of light-emitting and light-receivingelements 401 and 402 are mounted on injection control unit 101 and noneof them are included in controller unit 410. For example, light-emittingelement 401 may be mounted on controller body 420 (not shown). In thiscase, a power source such as a battery needs to be provided forcontroller body 420, but controller body 420 and injection control unit101 do not need to be connected through wires or the like, therebymaking it possible to minimize the influence on a magnetic field.

In the above embodiment, only one liquid syringe 200 is mounted oninjection head 110 and only one manual operation member 422 is includedin controller body 420. It is possible that a plurality of liquidsyringes 200 are mounted on the injection head and a plurality ofcontroller bodies 420 are provided for controller body 420 up to thesame number as that of liquid syringes 300.

For example, in some chemical liquid injectors (not shown) actually usedin MRI apparatus 200, a liquid syringe for a contrast medium and aliquid syringe for physiological saline are placed in parallel on aninjection head. In such a case, two manual operation members 422 may bemounted on one controller body 420 to remotely control the two liquidsyringes on the injection head individually.

In the above embodiment, the operation speed of syringe drivingmechanism 114 on injection head 110 corresponds to the position of slidmanual operation member 422 of controller unit 410. For example, theposition of slid syringe driving mechanism 114 on injection head 110 maybe matched with the position of slid manual operation member 422 ofcontroller unit 410.

In the above embodiment, first and second optical fibers 431 and 432 areperpendicularly bent and opposed to each other within controller body420. For example, an optical element (not shown) for reflecting a lightray perpendicularly may be used to form an optical path without bendingfirst and second optical fibers 431 and 432 within controller body 420.

In the above embodiment, the light ray emitted from light-emittingelement 401 is always detected by light-receiving element 402. It ispossible to provide controller body 420 with a mechanism for startingand stopping the detection through manual operation. A controller unitof such a controller will hereinafter be described in brief withreference to FIGS. 7 to 9. Although the directions of forward, rearward,left, right, up, and down are specified as shown in the description ofthe present invention, these directions are defined for convenience tosimply describe the relative relationship between components and thedefinition does not limit any direction in manufacture or actual usewhen the present invention is implemented.

Controller unit 500 shown in the example is connected to fiber cable430. The trailing ends of first optical fiber 431 and second opticalfiber 432 are connected to optical elements 501 for bending the opticalaxis perpendicularly. Optical elements 501 are fixed to the left andright within controller body 502 and optically coupled to each other.

Shaft member 510 is placed slidably in the forward-and-rearwarddirection at the center of controller body 502. Shaft member 510 isbiased rearward by coil spring 511. Long hole 511 elongated in theforward-and-rearward direction is formed through shaft member 510 in theleft-and-right direction, and light-transmitting plate 421 is placed inlong hole 511.

Thus, optical elements 501 at the trailing ends of first and secondoptical fibers 431 and 432 are optically coupled to each other vialight-transmitting plate 421 in shaft member 510. Manual operationmember 512 is mounted on the front end of shaft member 510 and isexposed at the front end of controller body 502. As shown in FIG. 9, thefront end of controller body 502 is formed in a double-cylindricalshape, and as shown in FIG. 7, the cylindrical rear end of manualoperation member 512 is slidably placed in the space between thecylinder-shaped portions of controller body 502.

Shutter member 520 serving as an optical path open/close mechanism issupported swingably in the vertical direction in a lower portion ofcontroller body 502. Shutter member 520 is biased downward by coilspring 521. Through-hole 522 is formed in shutter member 520. Whenshutter member 521 is located downward by coil spring 521, shuttermember 521 blocks the optical coupling between first and second opticalfibers 431 and 432. When shutter member 521 is located upward throughmanual operation, first and second optical fibers 431 and 432 areoptically coupled to each other via through-hole 522 of shutter member520.

Opening hole 503 is formed in a lower portion of controller body 502,and shutter member 520 is exposed at the lower portion from opening hole503, Flexible cover member 523 made of resin with no light transmittanceis mounted at opening hole 503 of controller body 502 and covers shuttermember 520.

In controller unit 500 as described above, when shutter member 521 isnot manually operated, the optical coupling between first and secondoptical fibers 431 and 432 is blocked. Only when shutter member 521 ismanually operated, first and second optical fibers 431 and 432 areoptically coupled.

Thus, an operator who intends to use controller unit 500 moves manualoperation member 513 forward to a desired position with his thumb andmanually operates shutter member 521 upward with his forefinger, forexample. Then, light-receiving element 402 of chemical liquid injector100 detects a corresponding light ray position of moved manual operationmember 513, so that the detection result is held as data to perform theoperation accordingly.

When the operator releases the manual operation of shutter member 521,shutter member 521 is lowered to the initial position by the biasing ofcoil spring 521 to block the optical coupling between first and secondoptical fibers 431 and 432. Chemical liquid injector 100 continues theoperation in accordance with the detection result held as data.

At this point, when the operator releases the manual operation of manualoperation member 513, light-transmitting plate 421 is moved rearward tothe initial position by the biasing of coil spring 511 together withshaft member 510. Since the optical coupling between first and secondoptical fibers 431 and 432 is blocked, the operation of chemical liquidinjector 100 is not changed.

As described above, in controller unit 500, when shutter member 621 ismanually operated for a short time with manual operation member 513manually operated to the desired position, the desired operation statecan be supplied as data to chemical liquid injector 100. Thus, theoperator does not need to maintain the operation state of controllerunit 500, and the desired operation state can be supplied as data tochemical liquid injector 100 in desired timing.

By manually operating manual operation member 513 with shutter member521 manually operated, the continuously changing operation state can besupplied as data to chemical liquid injector 100.

In controller unit 500 as described above, manual operation member 513for moving light-transmitting plate 421 is exposed to the outside fromunit body 501. As shown in FIG. 9, the front end of controller body 502is formed in the double-cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIG. 7, thecylindrical rear end of manual operation member 512 is slidably placedin the space between the cylinder-shaped portions. Thus, outside lightcan be favorably prevented from entering second optical fiber 432.

In controller unit 500 described above, shutter member 521 is placed atopening hole 503 of unit body 501. Since opening hole 503 is coveredwith flexible cover member 523 made of resin with no lighttransmittance, shutter member 521 can be freely operated manually, andoutside light can be favorably prevented from entering second opticalfiber 432.

1. A controller for controlling operation of a movable mechanism mountedon a body of a movable apparatus, comprising: a controller body formedseparately from the body of the apparatus; a flexible optical fiberhaving one end attached to the controller body and the other endattached to the body of the apparatus; a light-emitting element mountedon the controller body and emitting a light ray which enters the one endof the optical fiber; a wavelength-variable mechanism mounted on thecontroller body and changing a wavelength of the light ray emitted bythe light-emitting element and entering the one end of the optical fiberin accordance with manual operation; a light-receiving element mountedon the body of the apparatus and detecting the wavelength of the lightray emitted from the other end of the optical fiber; and driving controlmeans mounted on the body of the apparatus for controlling operation ofthe movable mechanism in accordance with the detection result of thelight-receiving element.
 2. The controller according to claim 1, whereina controller unit including the controller body, the optical fiber, thelight-emitting element, and the wavelength-variable mechanism is formedseparately from the body of the apparatus, and the controller unit isremovably mounted on the body of the apparatus.
 3. The controlleraccording to claim 1, further comprising an optical path open/closemechanism for opening and closing an optical path from thelight-emitting element to the one end of the optical fiber in accordancewith manual operation.
 4. The controller according to claim 1, whereinthe wavelength-variable mechanism includes: a wavelength-variableelement for changing a wavelength of a light ray entering from thelight-emitting element and emitting to the optical fiber depending on aportion of the wavelength-variable element; and a manual operationmember supported movably and operated manually to move at least one ofthe light-emitting element, the wavelength-variable element, and the oneend of the optical fiber.
 5. A controller for controlling operation of amovable mechanism mounted on a body of a movable apparatus, comprising:a controller body formed separately from the body of the apparatus; afirst flexible optical fiber having one end attached to the body of theapparatus and the other end attached to the controller body; alight-emitting element mounted on the body of the apparatus and emittinga light ray which enters the one end of the first optical fiber; asecond flexible optical fiber having one end attached to the controllerbody, the light ray emitted from the other end of the first opticalfiber entering the one end, and the other end attached to the body ofthe apparatus; a wavelength-variable mechanism mounted on the controllerbody and changing a wavelength of the light ray emitted from the otherend of the first optical fiber and entering the one end of the secondoptical fiber in accordance with manual operation; a light-receivingelement mounted on the body of the apparatus and detecting thewavelength of the light ray emitted from the other end of the secondoptical fiber; and driving control means mounted on the body of theapparatus for controlling operation of the movable mechanism inaccordance with the detection result of the light-receiving element. 6.The controller according to claim 5, wherein a controller unit includingthe controller body, the first optical fiber, the wavelength-variablemechanism is formed separately from the body of the apparatus, and thecontroller unit is removably mounted on the body of the apparatus. 7.The controller according to claim 5, further comprising an optical pathopen/close mechanism for opening and closing an optical path from theother end of the first optical fiber to the one end of the secondoptical fiber in accordance with manual operation.
 8. The controlleraccording to claim 5, wherein the wavelength-variable mechanismincludes: a wavelength-variable element for changing a wavelength of alight ray entering from the first optical fiber and emitting to thesecond optical fiber depending on a portion of the wavelength-variableelement; and a manual operation member supported movably and operatedmanually to move at least one of the other end of the first opticalfiber and the one end of the second optical fiber.
 9. The controlleraccording to claim 4, wherein the wavelength-variable element comprisesa light-transmitting plate which transmits light rays with differentwavelengths in its different portions.
 10. The controller according toclaim 4, wherein the wavelength-variable element comprises a reflectiveplate which reflects light rays with different wavelengths in itsdifferent portions.
 11. The controller according to claim 4, wherein thewavelength-variable element comprises a prism.
 12. The controlleraccording to claim 1, further comprising: an automatic returningmechanism for returning the wavelength-variable mechanism to an initialstate; and an operation holding mechanism for releasably holding thewavelength-variable mechanism in an operation state.
 13. The controllerunit of the controller according to claim 2, comprising: the controllerbody formed separately from the body of the apparatus; the flexibleoptical fiber having one end attached to the controller body and theother end removably attached to the body of the apparatus; and thewavelength-variable mechanism mounted on the controller body andchanging a wavelength of the light ray emitted by the light-emittingelement and entering the one end of the optical fiber in accordance withmanual operation.
 14. The controller unit of the controller according toclaim 6, comprising: the controller body formed separately from the bodyof the apparatus; the flexible first optical fiber having one endremovably attached to the body of the apparatus and the other endattached to the controller body; the flexible second optical fiberhaving one end attached to the controller body, the light ray emittedfrom the other end of the first optical fiber entering the one end, andthe other end removably attached to the body of the apparatus; and thewavelength-variable mechanism mounted on the controller body andchanging a wavelength of the light ray emitted from the other end of thefirst optical fiber and entering the one end of the second optical fiberin accordance with manual operation.
 15. The movable apparatus on whichthe controller unit according to claim 13 is removably mounted,comprising: the body of the apparatus; the movable mechanism mounted onthe body of the apparatus; a light-receiving element mounted on the bodyof the apparatus and detecting a wavelength of the light ray emittedfrom the other end of the optical fiber; a driving control means mountedon the body of the apparatus for controlling operation of the movablemechanism in accordance with the detection result of the light-receivingelement.
 16. The movable apparatus on which the controller unitaccording to claim 14 is removably mounted, comprising: the body of theapparatus; the movable mechanism mounted on the body of the apparatus; alight-emitting element mounted on the body of the apparatus and emittinga light ray which enters the controller unit; a light-receiving elementmounted on the body of the apparatus and detecting a wavelength of thelight ray emitted from the controller unit; a driving control meansmounted on the body of the apparatus for controlling operation of themovable mechanism in accordance with the detection result of thelight-receiving element.
 17. The movable apparatus according to claim15, wherein the movable mechanism individually holds a cylinder memberand a piston member of a liquid syringe, the piston member beingslidably inserted into the cylinder member, such that the piston memberis moved relatively to the cylinder member.
 18. The controller accordingto claim 8, wherein the wavelength-variable element comprises alight-transmitting plate which transmits light rays with differentwavelengths in its different portions.
 19. The controller according toclaim 8, wherein the wavelength-variable element comprises a reflectiveplate which reflects light rays with different wavelengths in itsportions.
 20. The controller according to claim 8, wherein thewavelength-variable element comprises a prism.
 21. The controlleraccording to claim 5, further comprising: an automatic returningmechanism for returning the wavelength-variable mechanism to an initialstate; and an operation holding mechanism for releasably holding thewavelength-variable mechanism in an operation state.
 22. The movableapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the movable mechanismindividually holds a cylinder member and a piston member of a liquidsyringe, the piston member being slidably inserted into the cylindermember, such that the piston member is moved relatively to the cylindermember.